JJ's Helping Paws

06/03/2026

🐾 Whisker Wednesday Feline Fun Fact 🐾

Did you know kittens are born without any teeth?

Their tiny baby teeth, often called “milk teeth,” begin appearing at around 2-4 weeks of age. By the time they’re about 6 months old, those baby teeth fall out and are replaced by 30 permanent adult teeth!

If you’ve ever found a tiny kitten tooth on the floor, consider yourself lucky - most kittens swallow their baby teeth while eating, and it doesn’t harm them at all.

✨ Featured Feline: Lottie, our chimera girlee we introduced a couple weeks ago… she is one of Pumpkin’s precious littles. ✨

Give this girl a ❤️ or a follow! 🫶🏼

06/02/2026

When Snuggles first arrived, this handsome 2-year-old long-haired boy was frightened and unsure of the world around him. What he needed most wasn't a shelter or a cage - he needed time, patience, and the one-on-one attention that only a foster home can provide.

Look at him now. 🥹

His true personality has emerged, and he's become a loving, affectionate companion who can't get enough of his foster mom.

And while we can't scientifically prove it, we firmly believe that speaking to cats in an sweet, high-pitched baby voice helps them come out of their shells faster. We're kidding... but also not kidding. 😹

This is the magic of fostering. A little love, a little patience, and a safe place to land can change a life forever.

05/30/2026

🌈🐾 🌈🐾 🌈🐾 🌈🐾

Lost your furry best friend? Honor their memory with a personalized memorial stone in the Memory Garden at Molly's Place.

Memorial stones are available for:
🪨 Full Stone (approx. 12" x 18") — $50
🪨 Half Stone — $35

Best of all, 100% of your purchase supports JJ's Helping Paws programs, helping animals in need throughout our community.

A special thank you to Handeland Concrete LLC for generously donating their engraving services. They will work directly with you to create a beautiful, custom design that perfectly reflects your beloved companion's memory.

To purchase a memorial stone, contact JJ's Helping Paws:
📧 [email protected]
📞 (719) 315-1665

Leave a lasting tribute while helping save lives. ❤️🐾

Dropping off donated stones to JJ's Helping Paws is always so satisfying knowing the kitty cats are being loved. ❤️ Plus its cool to see our progress from when we started doing this.

05/29/2026

🐾 Happy Friday-YAY from Bean! 🐾

Today, our beloved Office Manager packed his bags once again and headed off on a brand new adventure with Auntie Deb.

Bean is already settling in nicely, and we hear the two of them are enjoying some very extensive chats together. Auntie Deb says she is so thankful to have our sweet boy keeping her company.

Fostering is such a life-changing experience - not just for the cats, but for the humans who open their hearts and homes to them, too. Seeing Bean so loved and spoiled during his little getaways has brought so much joy to all of us.

Enjoy your newest adventure, Bean… you’ve definitely earned it! ❤️

05/28/2026

We’re back with this month's
☀️🐾 Thursday Thoughts From Ballou 🐾☀️

After several cloudy, gloomy days, Ballou and Minerva are happy to report that the sunshine has finally returned.

“Cloudy days are for naps. Sunny days are for neighborhood surveillance.”

Today’s agenda includes serious window watching, bird monitoring, and possible mouse foraging patrols, side-by-side.

Because life is simply better when shared with someone you love.

05/27/2026

🐾 Whisker Wednesday Feline Fun Fact 🐾

Did you know mother cats can develop mastitis while nursing kittens?

Our sweet Pumpkin (featured on Mother’s Day) is currently struggling with this painful condition, which happens when the mammary glands become inflamed or infected - often during nursing or weaning. It can cause swelling, redness, heat, discomfort, fever, loss of appetite, and make feeding kittens very painful.

Common causes include:
- Milk not fully draining
- Scratches from nursing kittens
- Bacteria entering the gland
- Sudden weaning

Treatment can include antibiotics, pain medication, warm or cool compresses (cabbage can help reduce swelling and discomfort), supportive care, and sometimes helping kittens gradually wean.

The good news? With prompt veterinary care, most mama cats recover very well. 🧡

Pumpkin is being closely monitored, getting lots of extra love, and would appreciate all the healing thoughts while she recovers from caring for her five hungry little ones.

05/26/2026

Another clinic is in the books! 🎉

Today, 10 beloved pet cats received the care they need to help prevent unwanted litters and support healthier, happier lives.

Today’s totals:

7 females spayed
3 males neutered

We are incredibly grateful to today’s clinic sponsors and supporters:

Lisa Mendelsberg and Colorado Animal Rescue Express (C.A.R.E.)
Lucky Day Animal Rescue
David Drealan and Nila S. Hughes

A huge thank you to the amazing Fremont Veterinary Hospital team for caring for these kitties, and to our dedicated voucher volunteer team, led by Cindy, for helping coordinate every detail behind the scenes.

Lastly, thank you to the responsible pet owners who chose to spay and neuter their cats. Every appointment makes a difference for animals in our community.

Together, we are creating a better future for Fremont County cats - one clinic at a time. 🐾

05/25/2026

Freedom is never free.

05/24/2026

9 days in “Finishing School”… and look at them now. 🥹

When these four babies first came in, we were told they were “spicy,” so naturally they earned the names Wasabi, Onion, Garlique, and Chilli. 🌶️

As we shared earlier this week, these kittens got an important head start thanks to kind people who showed them love and patience before they ever entered foster care.

And now, just 9 days into foster care, they are absolutely flourishing.

Fostering truly changes lives. With patience, safety, and love, scared little kittens can learn to trust and thrive. ❤️

We are so grateful to everyone who helped these babies along the way and to their foster for continuing to help them blossom. Their future is looking brighter every single day. 🐾

05/23/2026

🐾 Minnow Update 🐾

Just 4.5 weeks ago, Minnow came into our care weighing only 4.4lbs and battling FIP - a devastating disease that was once considered almost always fatal.

Today, we are so incredibly happy to share that Minnow’s first follow-up labs are looking WONDERFUL. 💛

Her red blood cell count is back to normal.

Her bilirubin levels are normal. (Check out the change in her eye color!)

Nearly all of her bloodwork values have returned to normal ranges.

While her platelet count is still low, it is steadily climbing - showing regenerative anemia and, most importantly, that the medication is working exactly as hoped.

And our girl is thriving…

Minnow is now up to 6lbs! 🐾

FIP treatment is a long journey - 84 days of medication followed by 84 days of careful observation - which means Minnow will remain in JJ’s care through October. But her future is looking brighter every single day.

We are endlessly grateful to Amy for the incredible care, dedication, and love she has poured into this sweet girl. Watching a cat go from critically ill to playful, gaining weight, and healing is truly amazing.

Minnow still has a road ahead of her, but today is a HUGE victory worth celebrating. 💕

Thank you to everyone who continues to support rescue cats like Minnow. Because of you, cats facing what once felt impossible now have hope.

If you’d like to contribute to Minnow’s medication, we’d be forever grateful: https://jjshelpingpaws.org/donate